mental health

In Praise of Pets; Why They’re Good for Your Health

March 4, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

We are a nation of animal lovers and really, who can resist that cute little puppy face or that little kitten that wants to walk all over your keyboard when you’re working? But having a pet isn’t just about the cute factor; there is plenty of science out there that shows having a furry friend in your life gives you more than just great photos to put on Instagram.

Image courtesy of Pexels

In the hustle and bustle of our younger years, we barely get a moment to ourselves in between working, socializing, relationships, and maybe even raising a family. But as we get a little older, we realize that even in the midst of all that, it can be possible to feel loneliness. This has certainly become a modern day scourge among the older age groups. Companionship from a pet can go a long way in alleviating some of those feelings, and while it’s important to seek help if you’re feeling particularly isolated and depressed, having a loyal friend to absorb some of that loneliness can provide a real comfort for so many of us.

Pets provide more than just a fuzzy feeling, they are scientifically proven to show significant improvements to mental health, even among people suffering with more severe symptoms. Many hospitals across the world have incorporated pet visits and therapy on wards including medical oncology, and of course, children’s wards. The results are conclusive: patients with exposed access to animals feel better mentally, which has a knock-on effect to their recovery time.

[my Archie]

So, if you’re thinking of getting a pet, you can feel assured that you’re not just getting a cuddly companion, you’re getting access to great health and mental wellbeing therapy. For dog owners, in particular, the benefits don’t just stop there. With a canine, you will have no choice but to get out there in the fresh air with your pupper, rain or shine. Your dog needs regular exercise and that can only be of benefit to owners who might otherwise choose the couch over a run around the park.

Research also shows that the benefits of a pet don’t just stem from the furry kind. Even if you’ve opted for reptiles over fur, you’ll gain from having the responsibility of having a living thing rely on you for sustenance and its wellbeing. The fascination of watching snakes, lizards, turtles, and even insects in their own environments is a fascinating distraction from everyday life and well worth investing your time and money into.

Whether you’re a dog, cat, or lizard person, taking on a pet can be quite a responsibility. However, all that money, those trips to the vet, and pet food are worth every penny in the long term. Battling loneliness, forcing you out of the door for a walk, not to mention providing all those Insta moments means pet ownership will give you more than just a warm feeling. Do your research and figure out who’s in line for becoming your new best friend!

I’m partial to the fluffy, poodley kinds 😉

•What are your favorite kinds of pets?

•Do you have any pets?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

Proven Ways To Boost Your Wellbeing in 2019

March 2, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Wellbeing is a term that refers to both physical and mental health in a person. When somebody has a great sense of wellbeing, they feel good in most aspects of their life; happy and content as they go about their day to day business. However, not everybody has a naturally high sense of wellbeing. There are things you can do to improve it, though!

Below you’ll find some proven ways to boost your wellbeing in 2019!

Work On Your Sleep Hygiene

Start by working on your sleep hygiene – something that many people neglect to do. Sleep isn’t always the most exciting or glamorous thing that you can be doing, but it’s one of the most important. When we get enough sleep, we’re productive, alert, happier, and even reduce our risk of diseases in the long term. Most adults need around 8 hours a night, but this can vary depending on activity levels and other factors. As a rule, you probably shouldn’t be getting less than 7 hours a night. Pay attention to how you feel – you could even start tracking your sleep with an app or fitness watch.

Spend More Time In ‘The Flow’

Being in the flow is all about losing track of time and only focusing on the thing in front of you. It has been proven that people who spend more time in the flow are happier than those who don’t do it. Find something you enjoy, whether that’s painting, knitting, writing or something completely different. It should be something that helps you to live in the present moment and forget everything else around you.

credit

Look Into Alternative Therapies

There are alternative therapies that could potentially help you to feel amazing. Reiki is a treatment that works with the body’s energy centres. Sometimes, a therapist may be able to tell when you’re out of alignment, and give you advice. It’s a relaxing treatment, but the therapist doesn’t actually touch you! Then there’s acupuncture, which many people say helps them with all kinds of ailments, such as insomnia and back ache. You might want to look up what is a float tank if you feel like you need to relax more – these tanks can help the user to get into an amazing meditative state. You could even just go for a regular massage if these things sound too strange.

Try Meditation

5 minutes of meditation every day can work wonders for your wellbeing. You don’t need to do it for hours, and you don’t even need to be perfect at it right away. Download an app or use a YouTube videos to get started. Many people find that listening to entrancing music helps them.

Get Active

Find an activity you enjoy and stick to it, whether that’s swimming or using kangoo boots to go running. It should be an enjoyable part of your lifestyle!

Learn Something New

Learning new things means you’re in a healthy growth mindset, which is where we should all be. What have you been thinking about? Maybe you could play an instrument, or take a creative writing course.

Stay Mindful Of Your Thoughts

You have more control over your thoughts than you think. Try to tune into the good ones and switch over when you notice a not so good one.

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Archie Beauty Fitness Lifestyle

Holiday Gift Guide 2016

December 16, 2016 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

The holidays are almost here, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve waited until the last 2 weeks to get gifts for your loved ones. I’ve made it simple to shop with my holiday gift guide for 2016!

For Fitness Lovers:

Katie K Active Fitness Outfit.

There are a variety of options, with sizes ranging from S-3X. Katie K Active is all-inclusive, meaning there is something for everyone! Their clothes are also incredibly comfortable and functional. I own at least 5 complete outfits!

Use code LYNDSAY40 at checkout for 40% off your order plus FREE shipping!

For Pet Lovers:

One Fur All Pet Candle. Scent: Holidays Fur All

As any pet lover will know, animals can be very stinky. From the natural scent to urine stains, One Fur All pet candles neutralize the odor with their 100% soy wax. The Holidays Fur All scent is perfect for Christmas time. Imagine what Christmas smells like, and it’s captured perfectly in this candle! These pet candles are the only ones that have been successful in neutralizing the odors in our home. Plus, they burn for 70 hours!

Get free shipping on orders of $45 or more. Plus, right now, you can get a FREE mini candle with a purchase of a regular candle with code MYMINI!

For Friends Needing Happiness and Support:

Caring Crate Monthly Mental Health Box.

Caring Crate is a subscription box that sends you little goodies every month, all designed for wellness! It’s designed for those with mental health and/or chronic illness, plus anyone who needs a little happiness/wellness in their lives.

In one of my boxes, I received a No Worries Journal, locally made blondie bar (from Vancouver, B.C.), relaxing bath salts, and stitch art! They’re all quality, full-size products that are designed to make us feel happier.

Shop 1 month, 3 month, or 6 month subscriptions here, and order now to get the Winter Indulgence Bonus Box!

For Beauty Lovers:

Believe Organics 3 Steps / 3 Giant Steps Skincare Set.

Believe Organics creates all-natural, organic, and vegan beauty/skin care products. I’ve been using them for at least a year! The 3 Step Skincare Set comes with cleansing caviar, clarifying toner, & facial elixir. They come in glass bottles and a reusable linen pouch. Perfect!

Get free shipping on orders over $50 with code believe!

I hope this guide makes holiday shopping a little easier for you! I stand by all these products and your loved ones are sure to love them.

Happy Holidays!

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Bipolar Disorder

World Bipolar Day 2015 – A Guide To Getting Through Those First Steps

March 30, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 5 Comments

Today (March 30) is World Bipolar Day (WBD). It’s one of my favorite days of the year! Why? Because WBD is 24 hours of spreading awareness and eliminating social stigma of bipolar disorder around the entire world. Why is WBD so important to me? It’s important to me because I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder seven years ago (although I have been living with it my entire life) and I know first-hand what the other 27 million people worldwide living bipolar disorder are experiencing.

World Bipolar Day is an initiative of the Asian Network of Bipolar Disorder (ANBD), the International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF), and the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD). It is celebrated each year on March 30th, the birthday of Vincent van Gogh, who was posthumously diagnosed as probably having bipolar disorder. The vision of WBD is to bring world awareness to bipolar disorders and to eliminate social stigma. Through international collaboration, the goal of World Bipolar Day is to bring the world population information about bipolar disorders that will educate and improve sensitivity towards the illness.

**May involve triggers for some.

Last year was the first time I participated in WBP. I shared my story of living with bipolar disorder on my blog. I also recently shared my story of why bipolar disorder has made my life better on StigmaFighters.com. I’m super excited to participate this year as the social media manager of Instagram for the International Bipolar Foundation. It is an honor and a huge pleasure to volunteer with IBPF and to connect with so many amazing individuals through the Instagram account!

I am more than my diagnosis. –Find more photos on IBPF’s Instagram, Facebook, & Twitter!

Below are a few of the steps I took (and feelings I experienced) going from diagnosis to getting help to stability. **Please note: I am not a mental health professional and do not diagnose, treat, or cure any medical conditions. I am simply offering my own opinions based on my personal experience.

| THE DIAGNOSIS |

It can be pretty scary and overwhelming being diagnosed with bipolar disorder (or any mental health condition). If you’re anything like me, you were alone, had no one to talk to, and didn’t really know what the next step was. My entire life changed during a 20 minute evaluation. Truthfully, my life had been that way for as long as I can remember. The mood swings, the anxiety, the hyperactivity, the depression, the self-harm, and mostly, how different I was from all my friends. But once that actual diagnosis came, once it was said out loud, it could never be taken back (no takesie backsies on this one!). It was time for me to figure out my next steps and get the help I needed.

| TELLING YOUR LOVED ONES |

To be honest, I don’t remember telling my family. I don’t remember what I said or their responses. Truthfully, I can’t remember if I ever officially told them. My older brother was diagnosed bipolar II five years before I was, but he did not continue with treatment. I don’t think I was necessarily worried about what my parents would think; I think I just probably forgot. Totally not the best way to go about it, but I was a mess during diagnosis. I regret not formally telling my parents and loved ones. There were many years of frustration, misunderstanding, pain, and helplessness that I now feel could have been prevented by being open, vulnerable, and honest.

If and when you are ready to share your diagnosis with your loved ones, I recommend being open with them. Don’t just talk to them, talk with them- like a conversation almost. Allow them to ask questions, and steer away from becoming defensive. One thing I always have to remember is not to get angry when they don’t understand what I’m saying. That’s going to happen. Remember, not many people know details about bipolar disorder, and even if they do, they generally have absolutely no idea what you are going through. That is not their fault, and no one wants to place blame. If the conversation becomes overwhelming or too stressful, let them know you need to take a break and remove yourself from the room. Share only what you want to share. If there are things you are uncomfortable talking about (i.e. mania can sometimes cause hyper-sexuality), then leave that out. You can always share it later if you choose. However, I recommend sharing the major bullet points so they have a good idea of what to look for and what will happen. Even if you are afraid or nervous, remember that it’s crucial to have that support, and this will help you in the long run.

I also recommend creating a WRAP Plan (Wellness Recovery Action Plan). This plan will help you to identify triggers, early warning signs, etc along with crisis planning and so on. It helps you to better manage your disorder, and it helps loved ones recognize what is happening and what to do next. Find a blank WRAP Plan here.

| GETTING HELP |

Getting help is crucial. In my opinion, it’s absolutely necessary if you want to get better. “Help” does not mean or look the same for everyone. Various ways to receive help are:

psychiatry/medication
therapy
support group
online forums
energy healing
self-healing/self-work

There are countless other ways to reach stability, but these are ones I’ve personally tried as well as others in the community. I want to add that balanced nutrition and exercise are very important for stability. The physical body is as important as the mind, and vice versa. They are completely intertwined.

| TREATMENT IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL |

Not everyone will follow the same path to stability. Some people refuse to take medication, so they will follow a more holistic approach (energy healing, hypnotherapy, etc). Others might not like talking with someone of “higher authority” and therefore choose to forego therapy. The most important thing to remember is that it truly is different for everyone. I cannot stress this enough. I see people on forums (be wary of the internet; opinions should not be confused with medical professional advice) telling others to never take medication and to replace it with marijuana or herbal remedies (I saw this two days ago). While those may be great options, telling someone to not take medication is unsafe.

Other times, people push medication on others by saying, “Lamictal is bad, you should take Prozac” or whatever. Firstly, “you should” shouldn’t be used at all. It’s rude and wrong to tell someone what they should or should not do. You can offer advice, but not tell someone what they must do. Secondly, each person will have a different reaction to a medication. Our brains are wired differently; none of us are the same. So our medications, therapists, healing will be completely different. For example, I do really well with Lamictal. However, for some, they develop a severe skin rash from Lamictal and cannot take it. Some people (like my brother) can take Celexa and feel better. When I take Celexa, I get nauseous and dizzy.

The point is: find a psychiatrist and a therapist. Form a support group (friends, family, online, community, etc). Work on yourself; learn how to practice self-love and care (I owe most of my stability to this). Explore all options, and if something doesn’t work for you, then move on. I never thought I’d see a hypnotherapist for healing, but now I absolutely love it. Be open, be honest, be vulnerable. It is all a part of the journey.

| STABILITY |

I can happily say that I am stable, and have been since October 2013. I’ve had a few mini depressive episodes, but they only lasted a few days. Usually my episodes last about 8 months. Once you reach stability, remember that it will not stay forever. That sounds negative, but if you’re receiving treatment, it’s okay. For example, I began experiencing severe daily mood swings, along with anger and irritability. I met with my psychiatrist and we determined that I needed to be on a mood stabilizer (I was taking only an anti-depressant, which isn’t the best choice for those with bipolar – can cause mania). I’ve had to adjust my dosages every so often. I currently take Lamictal, Zoloft, Trazodone (for insomnia), and Vyvanse (for ADHD). I see my psychiatrist once a month and my therapist once a week. Together, we are able to recognize when an episode is coming. By doing so, we are able to prevent the episode more easily and effectively.

I see my team of doctors, receive hypnotherapy and energy healing, have a support system of friends, family, and my boyfriend. I have a puppy who I am training to be my bipolar support dog, I practice yoga, I write, I get outside every day, and I take a break when I am stressed. These things as a whole have helped me reach stability.

Find what works for you & embrace it. Embrace your disorder. It will bring you creativity, passion, and empathy on a much higher level. When it becomes almost too much to bare, remember that it will pass.

You are a bipolar warrior. And you are perfect, exactly as you are in this moment.

Have you been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, or any form of mental health condition? What helps you find stability?
What aspects of your disorder do you find positive and wonderful? (Don’t say ‘nothing’.. there has to be SOMEthing!)
What would you change about the steps I provided? What would you add?

Comment below! 🙂

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Bipolar Disorder Events

Join Us For World Bipolar Day 2015!

February 25, 2015 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

World Bipolar Day (WBD) – an initiative of the Asian Network of Bipolar Disorder (ANBD), the International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF), and the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) – will be celebrated each year on March 30th, the birthday of Vincent Van Gogh, who was posthumously diagnosed as probably having bipolar disorder.

I participated in World Bipolar Day last year (2014). It was my first year participating, and the first time I told my personal bipolar story to the world. It was liberating, plus I helped a few people get help for themselves! I invite you to share your story- you’ll find that you are not alone! You can read my story here.

The vision of WBD is to bring world awareness to bipolar disorders and to eliminate social stigma. Through international collaboration, the goal of World Bipolar Day is to bring the world population information about bipolar disorders that will educate and improve sensitivity towards the illness.

Each of the organizations is encouraging their members, chapters, and affiliates to orchestrate local events surrounding WBD.

International Bipolar Foundation’s CALL TO ACTION:

1. We are asking people with a lived experience, caregivers and the general public to submit

a photo to us:

Hold a sign, write text over your photo, or email the text for us to add, that says:

–Lived Experience: “I am (something other than your illness) ” with your name (optional), and country

–Caregivers: “I love/care for someone with bipolar disorder” with your name (optional), and country

–General Public: “I support those who have bipolar disorder” with your name (optional), and country

2. All images must be submitted no later than March 15th to hzupin@ibpf.org with your signed photo permission slip.

3. Images will be displayed all day on March 30th via Facebook, Twitter and additional IBPF social media pages.

I hope you will participate this year! Whether it’s through a blog post, a social media post, or by sharing your “I AM” photo, you’ll not only be helping yourself, but you’ll be helping others to know they’re not alone! If you have any questions, please email hzupin@ibpf.org, or email me at lyndsay.marvin@gmail.com. I am looking forward to reading everyone’s posts!

Find the International Bipolar Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. I am the manager of their Instagram account, and love connecting with new people every day!

To health & happiness,

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Events Lifestyle Personal

It’s My SITS Day; Welcome!

November 10, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 20 Comments

Today is my feature day on The SITS Girls! I am SO excited, and wanted to welcome everyone who stops by! 🙂

My name is Lyndsay, and I’m a 26-year-old writer living in Los Angeles, CA (originally from Cleveland, OH). I’m also a nanny, dog-sitter, brand ambassador, and affiliate marketer. I love keeping busy, what can I say? 🙂

I’ve been blogging since December 2013, but writing since age 8. I originally went to college for journalism, and was the editor-in-chief of my college’s newspaper. I loved it! I ended up graduating with a BA in speech-language pathology and audiology.

The Balanced Brunette is a blog that focuses on health, nutrition, fitness, mental health, and SoCal living. I started this blog as an outlet to share my thoughts about the correlation between mental and physical health. That is still the primary focus, but I’ve added in product reviews, events in Southern California, things to do in Los Angeles, and so on! TBB is sort of in a transition phase, as I’m going through a transition in my life.

I like to blog about bipolar disorder, as well. I was diagnosed in 2008. I am very in-tune with it, plus I am a pretty positive person! I’ve found that I connect with people the most when I share about my experiences, and it’s one of my favorite topics to write about.

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who stops by The Balanced Brunette today!! Leave a comment on this post or any other post, and I will be sure to check out your blog and return the love! 🙂

Have a wonderful Monday!

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XO

Lyndsay

Twitter | Instagram

Bipolar Disorder Fitness Nutrition Personal

After An Entire Year, My Mindset Is Finally In Alignment

May 28, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 40 Comments

I have so much excitement and happiness, I don’t even know where to begin! The past year has been wonderful, but very rough. I moved to Los Angeles from Cleveland in February 2013, and the life event threw me into the worst bipolar depression I have ever experienced. It hit me hard at the end of April/beginning of May 2013. I barely left my apartment for five months. I laid on our mattress.. in my living room.. on the floor.. in the AC.. with the blinds closed.. for FIVE MONTHS. I watched 14 seasons of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. That takes serious dedication (to my living room floor).

During this time, I didn’t care about my physical health. When my mental health is that messy, it’s hard for me to even shower (my boyfriend can vouch for this). As hard as it was to admit, I gained a lot of weight. I ate the worst possible foods, and my addiction to soda showed up again (I had given it up for good that past December).

Fast forward to today. I read somewhere that our mindset needs to be in alignment with our nutrition plan, or we won’t stick to it. Well, guess what? My mindset is finally in alignment with my goals! Oh my gosh, it feels SO good! I have had a serious sugar addiction that seemed almost impossible to get through. I’m currently detoxing and withdrawing from sugar, and these are the symptoms I am experiencing right now:

itchy ears (how weird, right?!)
itchy eyes
sinus congestion (immune system becomes suppressed)
severe migraine (withdrawal is no joke, I have no idea how I’m even looking at a computer screen lol)
hives

But it is worth it. Because these symptoms will eventually go away, and I am finally able to not have soda! I’m finally able to not have chocolate, or ice cream, or grains, or refined sugars/carbs. Yeah, it’s still challenging, but my mind is so clear on my goals that I am able to not have those things! I so badly want to be healthy. I want my digestive issues (candida, leaky gut, etc) to be better. I want to lose this weight (not necessarily to look better, but to feel better). I want to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) this year. I want to be able to somewhat control my moods and emotions.

I posted this status on Facebook yesterday:

“It’s an amazing thing, when you REALLY start to pay attention to how certain foods affect your body. Something that is healthy for one individual may not be as healthy for another individual. I always ate what I perceived to be “healthy” and never truly paid attention to how my body was affected by it. This is why one “diet” (diet meaning what you eat.. the actual meaning of the word) is not best for everyone. I follow mostly a paleo diet, however there are certain paleo-approved foods that I cannot have (and certain non-paleo foods I can have). Tailor your diet/nutrition to whatever fuels YOUR body best.”

Life is completely different when you learn to eat for your health, as opposed to weight loss. When you learn how to have a sustainable diet (again, diet meaning what we eat). I am even learning how to cook and enjoying it! I have never liked cooking haha.

cookbooks

I am loving my Practical Paleo and 21-Day Sugar Detox cookbooks from Balanced Bites! I used them to make dinner for my boyfriend yesterday (which he loved!). *Side note: the 21-Day Sugar Detox comes in two parts: the cookbook and the guide book.

I am learning to love my body and myself each and every day. People who say “I’ll be happy when I am this weight.. this size.. this wealthy..” and so on, those people will not find happiness. Not authentically, anyway. I used to be one of them. But we get to live in the moment, and love ourselves every single day, as we are.

Photo of me at a self-love yoga session with my friend & mentor Elyse

So my point of all this is that it feels so good to have my mindset on track after an entire year! I cannot stress enough how important it is to practice self-love and personal development (read books, go to therapy, join a support group, whatever it is for you), and also to really listen to your body. Pay attention to the foods that serve you and the foods that don’t. Eat for your health. Our bodies are so incredible, they fight so hard for us, don’t we want to fuel it properly?

xo, Lyndsay

How do you get your mindset in alignment with your goals?
Was it easy for you, or a struggle? Share below in the comments! 🙂

Bipolar Disorder Fitness Nutrition Personal SoCal

GetFitWithLynds is now The Balanced Brunette

May 19, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 13 Comments

I am sooo incredibly excited to announce that GetFitWithLynds is now The Balanced Brunette! I’m sure it has been a little confusing for some (even myself!), since the name change is so sudden and different, but I am beyond excited for this next chapter!

The reason behind the name change:

When my blog was GetFitWithLynds, it was geared toward fitness only (along with nutrition) and coaching. The more I wrote, the more I realized my passion isn’t only fitness, nutrition, and coaching. I am very passionate about sharing my experiences with bipolar disorder. I help myself by helping others know they are not alone. I am vulnerable and open for those who don’t yet have the strength. I also want to become more involved in the Los Angeles lifestyle, and share about that! There are so many amazing events that happen here, I would be silly not to get involved. 🙂

The meaning behind the name:

I chose The Balanced Brunette for a couple reasons. For one, it felt right. I kept thinking of other names, but this is the one I kept coming back to. For two, balance is the theme of my life (and many others, of course). I have always been attracted to the yin & yang symbol. Having a chemical imbalance, it’s only natural that I am attracted to balance. In my mind, body, and life. Mental, physical, and spiritual. For three, I’m a proud brunette! Haha, but seriously.

I’ve changed all my social media accounts to match my blog. I hope you will follow me on this amazing, exciting journey!

Twitter & Pinterest: @balancebrunette

Instagram: @thebalancedbrunette

Facebook: thebalancedbrunette

Blog: thebalancedbrunette.com

Xoxo,

Lyndsay

Fitness Nutrition

Energems Review + A Giveaway!

May 17, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 19 Comments

I had the wonderful opportunity of reviewing Energems and jumped at the chance! I have had issues with energy for as long as I can remember. I’ve tried (what feels like) everything, and wanted to see how Energems would work for me!

Not only are Energems effective, but they’re delicious! They are literally like big M&Ms®. And taste like it! There’s a bit of a weird aftertaste, but it only lasts a few seconds or so. There are three flavors: chocolate, mint, and peanut butter.

What I love about Energems is that they are convenient. I am always on the go (I nanny, dogsit, dogwalk, work at a wellness center, and more!), so convenience is perfect. Knowing I can wake up, eat some delicious chocolate, and get energy from that is perfect! Plus, they’re only 45 calories per serving (3 pieces). Love it! The energy burst comes from a proprietary energy blend of D-Glucuronolactone, Taurine, Caffeine, and Suntheanine® (L-Theanine), and also B-vitamins. Plus, it’s made with real milk chocolate!

I definitely recommend Energems for people who want an energy boost, especially on the go! With that, I am doing a GIVEAWAY for one winner! I tried all three flavors for myself, but saved the other three boxes for one lucky person!

To be eligible to win:

Comment below what you’ve tried for an energy boost
Follow The Balanced Brunette on Instagram
Like The Balanced Brunette on Facebook

Simple as that! The giveaway ends on Wednesday, May 21 at 9 p.m. PST. Good luck!!!

To check out Energems and purchase some of your own (you know you want to), visit their website here.

Thank you Energems for the opportunity to try and review your amazing product!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one the products mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Ambassador Fitness Nutrition

I Am A #SweatPink Ambassador!

May 10, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 9 Comments

A few weeks ago, I was accepted as a brand new #sweatpink ambassador with Fit Approach! It has been an amazing few weeks already!

This is the Fit Approach mission (borrowed from the Fit Approach website):

We believe that kicking ass is best done in pretty shoes. We’ve learned that real women sweat, and sweat hard. We know that assertiveness, strength, and ambition are the ultimate feminine qualities. We concede that sometimes it takes hours to get ready, but we’re also no strangers to just rolling out of bed and going. We’re convinced that we run faster in pink shoelaces. We believe in pushing ourselves, and we believe in giving ourselves a break, too. We’re all about the rush of endorphins and the thrill of the challenge. We’re all for looking great and feeling even better. We’re committed to finding our best fit, and making it stick.

How awesome is that?! The mission is what attracted me to Fit Approach in the first place. Pink is my favorite color, so this was a no brainer! I am all about pink shoelaces. As a welcome, I was sent a #sweatpink tank and some pink shoelaces:

Everyone in the #sweatpink community is SO welcoming! I love the feeling of being a part of a community of like-minded people, and knowing that I can go to any of them even though I don’t physically know them! I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity. <3

If you’re interested in becoming a #sweatpink ambassador, apply here! 🙂

Check out Fit Approach on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!